One would think Infineon Raceway president and general manager Steve Page would be more concerned.

Roaring into the Bay Area market for the first time this weekend is the Taylor Woodrow Grand Prix of San Jose, featuring the Champ Car World Series and its sleek and sexy open-wheel racing on the streets of downtown San Jose.

It arrives the same weekend that Sonoma County's Infineon hosts the omni- powerful hot rods for the 18th straight year, the FRAM Autolite NHRA Nationals.

Maybe 14 years ago, when he left his executive marketing post with the Oakland A's to dive head first into his unknown world of motors and what was then known as charming but dilapidated Sears Point Raceway, Page would have been threatened by the competition.

But not now. Not just because of the NHRA's solid fan base, but because the Bay Area, known for its high-brow taste and preference for mainstream games, is collectively warming to motor sports.

It can actually support two major gear-head events the same weekend.

"Motor sports in general is in a healthy state," Page said. "It's certainly to varying degrees, depending on the individual series. But, overall, the sport and its drivers are enjoying a higher profile than they were certainly 10 to 15 years ago, particularly in the Bay Area."

Grand Prix of San Jose officials are expecting crowds well over 100,000 for the three-day event. Page said sales for the NHRA event are up 12 percent over last year, when track regulars estimated crowds around 30,000 each of the three days.

"It's really our only event that fans are divided evenly over the three days," said Page, who noted corporate policy prohibits from giving exact attendance numbers.

Last month, NASCAR -- "the driver of all motor sports," Page said -- drew approximately 100,000 fans on race day at Infineon for the Dodge/Save Mart 350. Two weeks ago more than 50,000 crammed into Laguna Seca in Monterey as the MotoGP World Championships returned to the United States for the first time since 1994.

Figure in next month's debut at Infineon of the Indy Racing League -- Champ Car's open-wheel competitor -- and the local market appears primed to support every facet of a sport often associated largely with the South.

"It's getting stronger and stronger everywhere," said Los Gatos native and Leigh High of San Jose graduate A.J. Allmendinger, Champ Car's 2004 Rookie of the Year. "It's especially nice to see it growing here."

Allmendinger's parents, who now reside in Hollister (San Benito County), have reserved some 400 seats for family and friends to Sunday's main event, which will cover the tricky 1.6-mile course in 11 turns.

"You'd always like to have 12 months to build a race, and we've had nine here, which is fine," Singleton said. "You just make that happen. We've had fun doing it. We're coming down the homestretch. Quite frankly, the staff's been great. We're excited. The city's been great."

Champ officials and Singleton are hopeful San Jose will receive racing like new Toronto fans did last week, when 180,000 showed up for the weekend event. Longtime racing expert Dave Despain, of the Speed Channel, said the popularity of street-car racing is rising rapidly.

"The street car concept is great for creating new fans," Despain said. "It's much more accessible for someone coming off the street and entertaining to look at. He or she doesn't need to go to a track for an entire weekend."

The Champ Car series, formerly known as CART, has risen from the ashes of bankruptcy in 2003 thanks in part to veteran drivers like Sebastien Bourdais (2004 champion), Paul Tracy (2003 champion) and Bay Area native Jimmy Vasser (1996 champion), along with young talent such as the 23-year-old Allmendinger.

Vasser just gave up an apartment in San Francisco three months ago and also owns a home in the Napa Valley. One of the mainstays in Champ Car -- he is one of 14 drivers with more than 200 starts -- Vasser is sixth in the current series.

"There's a fantastic feeling and excitement down in San Jose," Vasser said. "Fans are going to be in for a pleasant surprise not only for the quality of racing but the entertaining value."

Dwindling attendance is partially why Champ Car and Laguna Seca parted ways after last season, but Allmendinger believes San Jose might be just the shot in the arm the series needs to persevere in the U.S.

"If we can just bring the fan base to the U.S. we can rebuild the series whole," Allmendinger said. "It's going to take time to get where we used to be. But we're starting to roll. I guarantee if someone comes out and watches us racing down the San Jose streets at 175 mph, then banging wheels around the tight turns, they'll be fans for life."

The NHRA has had a strong fan base ever since Wally Parks created the organization in the early 1950s to prevent kids from illegal street racing in Southern California.

Dragsters racing down a quarter-mile track at upwards of 330 miles per hour will always draw speed fans, much like fight fans will be attracted to the heavyweight class.

The biggest name in the sport, currently, may be John Force, the charismatic and quotable 13-time Funny Car division champion, who is getting all three of his daughters into racing, including Ashley, a 22-year-old who is already among the best Top Alcohol dragsters in the series.

"To me, NHRA is old school in absolutely the most positive sense possible, " Despain said. "The accessibility that NASCAR promises fans, NHRA actually keeps. Fans can watch the guys in the pits put the parts together for a complete hands-on experience. You can also mingle with the stars (drivers) and get autographs. Plus watching guys go 330 mph is pretty exciting."